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Keeping the Digital Revolution Human-Centric When Wired was founded, it heralded—even celebrated—a coming revolution in technology. To new editor-in-chief Nicholas Thompson, that revolution has arrived—just not in the way he’d hoped. Today, despite its abundance, tech is still unevenly distributed across society, with disruptions already having a massive impact on previously dependable employments; our journalists face a new era of alternative facts and ‘fake’ news; Facebook users often sit in an algorithmic echo chamber of ideas; and a cynical suspicion of science means even expert consensus is cast into doubt. But, as Thompson argues, today also marks a critical time to protect Wired’s early vision: to “make sure science keeps going forward, that we can all agree on facts, and make sure all that information makes our lives richer” (CNN). In this keynote, Thompson discusses the ever-changing frontier of business and technology, science and design, from Silicon Valley to Wall Street—and how good design and the highest values can help ensure the digital revolution remains at the service of human beings. “Technology and science continue to make the world a better place,” Thompson tells CJR—and we can’t lose sight of that truth.

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Fowler Auditorium

Start Date

9-27-2017 12:00 PM

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Sep 27th, 12:00 PM

The Optimistic Technologist

Fowler Auditorium

Keeping the Digital Revolution Human-Centric When Wired was founded, it heralded—even celebrated—a coming revolution in technology. To new editor-in-chief Nicholas Thompson, that revolution has arrived—just not in the way he’d hoped. Today, despite its abundance, tech is still unevenly distributed across society, with disruptions already having a massive impact on previously dependable employments; our journalists face a new era of alternative facts and ‘fake’ news; Facebook users often sit in an algorithmic echo chamber of ideas; and a cynical suspicion of science means even expert consensus is cast into doubt. But, as Thompson argues, today also marks a critical time to protect Wired’s early vision: to “make sure science keeps going forward, that we can all agree on facts, and make sure all that information makes our lives richer” (CNN). In this keynote, Thompson discusses the ever-changing frontier of business and technology, science and design, from Silicon Valley to Wall Street—and how good design and the highest values can help ensure the digital revolution remains at the service of human beings. “Technology and science continue to make the world a better place,” Thompson tells CJR—and we can’t lose sight of that truth.